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Archive for December, 2011

Unclaimed Money?

Dec 21

Posted by Jacquie Harkema in Learning and Using the Internet and Social Media; Technology | Add a Comment

How do you know if somewhere, in some state treasury, there isn’t some amount of money sitting there with your name on it?  Some amount of money owed you and sitting there because they can’t find you.  Ever think of that?

Go to this site to start your search.

I’ve posted this information today, the day we talk about social media, the Internet and technology.  So why would I put this here, you ask?  It was during a conversation/house call from Patricia, our tech-support person who was helping us with something and she happened to mention it.  She said she came across it and tells everyone she can about it.

Who doesn’t want ‘found-money’?  By the way, it is state specific, so check out all the states where you have lived.  Also, be aware that there are entries, if you do a Google search, of companies that charge for this.  It’s actually free, public information listed within each state’s website.  When you have clicked on a state, just keep looking for where to find this information.  I’ve lived in New Jersey and that state website was not as ‘user-friendly’ as Michigan, where I am now.

Well, as I checked my various aliases, I came up empty.  However, I think I may have found my son’s name listed although I’m not sure, as the source didn’t make sense.

Let me know what you find…  Found money!  Fun!

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Chevy–100 Years Old

Dec 20

Posted by Jacquie Harkema in Having Success After 60 | Add a Comment

Now I’d say this is definitely success after sixty… Chevy–100 years old.

We’re in Michigan, home of Motown.  Cars mean a lot to most people here.  That’s why Michigan doesn’t have toll roads and the metro Detroit area doesn’t have mass-transit.

Lots of talk about the car industry.  And ironically, since I was quite young, even though Motown is not my hometown, I have always paid attention to cars.  When I was eleven years old, I could name and identify pretty much all the American cars–makes and models.  And I was pretty good at determining what model year a car was as well.

By the late 70s, when the Japanese cars became popular, and throughout the next fifteen to twenty years with added makes and models, I kind of lost that ability.  Now of course, the brands are recognizable pretty much by their respective distinctive logos, even if the name is not prominent.  I’m better than lots of people at this awareness and perhaps that’s why when I can’t identify a vehicle, it’s a surprise to me.

I’d seen this ad on television a while back and now I’ve found it in YouTube.  It’s a true story and because of this thought it would be fun to post here.

I’m not advocating you purchase a Chevy, just thought this was a great video piece.  For the full story, click here.

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The Agony Of Aging? The Joys Of Aging?

Dec 19

Posted by Jacquie Harkema in Enjoying Life after 60, Thoughts and Musings | Add a Comment

Recently I was Googling things related to aging for this post.  I’ve come across some interesting websites with some interesting blogs on various aspects of all of this.

Hmmm… It’s fascinating how one topic can have so many opposing concepts and ideas about it.

The Agony of Aging, came from a blog post by that name on this website.  This was written by Karim Jessa.  Ironically, on the same day he wrote The Agony of Aging (actually under the category of Humor), he wrote a post titled The Joys of Aging (under the category of Satire).

Aging is an interesting phenomenon, as it is common for everyone.  No one who lives a long life will escape it.  And yet, does it not seem to have a somewhat negative connotation in our society?

Think about all the things people say as we age.  ‘You look great for your age!’  We know we’re aging when we hear that one.  No one would ever say that to a thirty-something!

Recently I read somewhere a quote that sums it up nicely:  Today we are the oldest we have ever been, but the youngest we will ever be.  Life is exciting and it is ever changing.  Nothing stays the same, not anything about each person as well.  Not our looks, not our body, nothing.

All we have is today to live and enjoy, for everything it offers.  Today we are who we are and we will enjoy everything about it.

What are your thoughts and feelings about all of this?  Aging–joy or agony?

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Cute Animal Christmas Song

Dec 18

Posted by Jacquie Harkema in Having Fun After 60 | Add a Comment

Cute Animal Christmas Song…  Interesting what people put together for YouTube.

Enjoy this…

Enjoy these days before Christmas.  Relax and really enjoy!  Everything will get done.

Let us know what are the most fun things you do over the Holidays…

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Amusing, But Is It Funny?

Dec 17

Posted by Jacquie Harkema in Thoughts and Musings | Add a Comment

Recently I came across this while reading a favorite of mine.  Every Friday morning at 8AM I get the Friday Eaglezine by Dr. Tom Hill.  The sub-title is:  Your Compass for Exceptional Living.  This is something I look forward to receiving and enjoy reading.

The most recent issue of this ezine, contained this video:  Chuck Woolery on Budget Cuts.  I found it amusing, but not sure if it is funny.  Actually, it’s sad when you see the outrageous amounts of our money spent for things most of us will never be a part of.

What are your thoughts on all of this?  What ideas might you have for cuts in Washington?

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Where Are You Now?

Dec 16

Posted by Jacquie Harkema in Personal Development | Add a Comment

This blog was written and posted over eighteen months ago.  I thought you might find it relevant to what might be going on for you today.  Would enjoy your feedback on it.

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Where are you in your life?  Is it where you want to be?  Is it where you thought you’d be at this point?

Have you ever wondered where all the time went?  How have all these days, weeks, months and years gone so quickly.  Recently I was remembering a business scenario from last year.  It seemed like it was a month or two ago, but then I realized it was last August.  How have nine months gone by when it doesn’t seem possible?

Are you still creating goals and benchmarks for what you want to do and where you want to go and what you want to become?  Hopefully you are.  Even if you have everything you want and need, I believe it is healthy for us to continue to strive to create more and grow more.

On a CD series I have from Bob Proctor, I heard him describe this concept relative to how an oak tree continues to grow.  “Does an oak tree decide that it’s grown enough?”

To continue in life and be productive is the most important thing.  How many of us have watched people we know who seem to just stop striving?  And what happens next?  They seem to stop thriving.

On a CD series I have heard by Jim Rohn, he said, “Just do it all, attend all the events that you can, talk to all the friends you can, go to all the places you can and keep becoming the person you can.”

I think there’s something to these nuggets of advice from two of the most prolific personal development authors I’ve known of.  Too bad Jim Rohn passed away last year, but what gems he left as his legacy.  If you want to know more about Jim Rohn, there is a direct link to his website on the lower right of this page.

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Jim Rohn passed away two years ago this December.  We still miss him and his profound wisdom.

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Why?

Dec 15

Posted by Jacquie Harkema in Personal Development, Thoughts and Musings | Add a Comment

Why is it that we get to be who we are?  How do we get so lucky to have been given the gift of our life and not the life of this person, or that person whom we may know or whom we may encounter along the way?  Have you ever encountered that person or those people who make you realize how great it is to be you?

Recently I’ve had some thoughts about this.  I realize many people this age are thinking about various aspects of their life.  I have decided to think about me as a person with lots of potential left and lots of living left to do.

There is so much to learn, experience, live and enjoy!  We have to just go for it!  Nike created a great slogan a while back… Just do it!  Maybe we need to create a slogan for ourselves.

Getting back to being who we are and all of that…  Recently I have seen groups of people who seem so totally different than how I am.  These people seem so disconnected with their lives.  They seem to be just being and getting by and living day-by-day with no thought of planning for a bigger life through setting a higher goal for themselves.

It makes me realize that not everyone is thinking like I think.  Not everyone is excited about what the potential is for their future.  Not everyone even can think of their future, because they see their present as so awful.

So, how are you thinking right now?  How are you thinking of your present circumstances and projecting to your future?  How has that served you?

Recently I heard someone talking about, how does someone learn to run fast?  The answer, just run fast?  Maybe we need to just do it!  Just go for it!

We’d love to hear from you about these thoughts.

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Gifts For The iGeeks In Your Life

Dec 14

Posted by Jacquie Harkema in Learning and Using the Internet and Social Media; Technology | Add a Comment

O.K.  There’s no getting around it.  This is gift-giving season.  Do you have any geeks in your family?  What about iGeeks?  In case you don’t know what an iGeek is, it would be those who are crazy about all things Apple, aka iPhone, iPad, iPod, iMac.

Even if you don’t have an iGeek in your life, you may be amused by the seven things listed here that you can buy for your iPhone.  Actually these various gadgets will transform any iPhone into something Steve Jobs himself perhaps would never have imagined.  Well, perhaps he might have.  Although these things have been manufactured by other companies.

Check out the article here to see the pictures and get the lowdown on these little goodies.

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What A Wonderful World

Dec 13

Posted by Jacquie Harkema in Having Success After 60 | Add a Comment

Louis Armstrong made this memorable recording of What a Wonderful World.

In this video, it’s combined with some great pictures.  I believe we would all consider Louis Armstrong to have been a success after sixty.

Actually, I haven’t thought of Louis Armstrong in a long time, but saw this posted on my friend, Kathy Aaron’s Facebook wall.  Thanks Kathy.  It is a truly great song.  Just makes you feel fortunate to be alive in our country!

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How Are You Creative?

Dec 12

Posted by Jacquie Harkema in Enjoying Life after 60, Thoughts and Musings | Add a Comment

Here is a thought-provoking post by Margaret Gust.  I believe you will find it as interesting as I have.

WHAT IS CREATIVITY?

Years ago I was talking with my brother’s daughter at their kitchen table, just regular aunt-niece chitchat.  I mentioned how talented and creative I thought she was and immediately she replied, “My brother is the talented one.  Everyone says he’s a great drummer and his band gets gigs every Saturday night.”  Undeterred, I replied that her ability to dress beautifully, accessorize herself as well as any space she found herself in, and style hair were wonderful talents.  I admire good hairstylists and think their skills are true art, considering they take a head of hair in multiple different lengths, visualize how to flatter your face, and then cut those hairs into a crowning glory.  I’ve had plenty of bad haircuts in my day, so I appreciate a good one.

How many of us think “art, music, or writing” when we hear the words talent or creativity?  According to the dictionary, creativity is having the power or ability to create things, characterized by expressiveness, imaginative.  When I Googled “creativity in senior citizens,” a host of sites appeared; those I opened urged “Take an art class, go visit a museum.”   I can barely draw a straight line and I have already visited the museums, thanks.  I like to write, so I suppose that is one outlet for my creativity.  But, there is so much to creativity.   Basically, I think it is just looking at your life, seeing what could be better and finding ways to create that change.

At 60 something, we have looked back at what we have already created in our lives, whether it was a marriage, family, career, or other, and assess where to put our present energies.  For some, taking the time to do art, music, writing is just the thing.  But, creativity also involves: Shaping a new life perhaps on a static income, trying new food and new activities, learning to swim, aquacise, meditation, yoga, Pilates, tai chi, jump roping, learning 50 different ways to catch a mackerel, ecotourism, learning to make your own pasta noodles, building a patio, growing houseplants or the greatest tomato in your neighborhood, training for a 5k or Senior Olympics.  Creativity also involves our relationships with others.  Perhaps we need to create more friends in our lives, or become the kind of grandparent that our grandkids deserve so we learn to be a better storyteller, a better, nonjudgmental listener who accepts the differences in our generations and can marvel at the skill set of the “millennial generation.”  In turn, they might teach you how to program your DVD recorder.

Yes, how are you creative?  So many ways to fit that word.  What’s yours?

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